5 Things You Should Never Do to a Blocked Drain

Dealing with a blocked drain? What you’re doing could be making it worse. Here are five things you should never put down a blocked drain.You’re finally finished preparing that wonderful meal. Or perhaps you’re relaxing in the shower after a long day at work. You’re going about your day when you notice that the water seems to be coming back up.
You have drain blockage. It’s something that many of us will experience, but blocked drains often require expert care.
While you’re waiting for repair, make sure that you’re not making the situation worse. Here are five things to never do to a blocked drain.
1. Ignore ItWe wish it weren’t the case, but a blocked drain isn’t simply going to fix itself. Under no circumstances should you ignore the problem, as this will only exacerbate it.
It can be tempting to live and let live and think that maybe that ball of hair blocking the shower drain will fix itself, but continuing to use the drain won’t make your life any easier.
A block requires expert care. Make sure that you get in touch with a professional plumber as soon as you notice your drain acting strangely.
2. Pour Grease Down a Blocked DrainThis is something that many of us are guilty of. We may think that grease will slip down the drain never to be seen again.
The truth, however, is that it acts like any other oil-based substance and hardens. Worse, grease may even calcify in your pipes, leading to blocked and burst drains.
Pouring grease down a drain isn’t just dangerous to your own plumbing, it’s dangerous to your entire region’s plumbing. Scientists are discovering an overwhelming number of what they’re calling fatbergs or large iceberg-like bits of grease and fat caused by discarded grease.
Aside from simply being gross, these fatbergs can harm your local ecosystem as well as drinking water.
3. Flush Items Like Condoms or TamponsIt’s not entirely clear where the rumor that tampons and condoms are flushable began, but it’s become clear that flushing these items does far more harm than good.
Tampons tend to expand when exposed to liquid, meaning it expands as soon as it hits the toilet. As you can probably expect, it’s going to expand even further as it travels down your plumbing.
Condoms, on the other hand, never disintegrate in water. Enough of them can cause major plumbing issues, as well as environmental harm.
4. Don’t Wait Until It’s Too LateOne of the best ways to deal with a malfunctioning drain is to prevent it. There are a few simple ways you can keep your toilet, garbage disposal, and the shower running as well as they did on day one.
Make sure to regularly run and rinse your garbage disposal. Coldwater works best, as it breaks up any congealed substances.
Clean your toilet on a regular basis. Aside from being sanitary, regular cleanings can prevent clogs from forming.
As for your shower, pick up any excess hair left by the drain. You can even buy a device to trap any hair before it travels down your drain.
5. Don’t Fix a Blocked Drain YourselfFinally, blocked drains may not seem like a huge issue. However, attempting to fix the problem yourself may only make the problem worse. We recommend finding professional aid immediately.
Experiencing Clogged Drains?If your household has a blocked drain, you know how frustrating it can be. These five tips should keep your drain functioning and prevent any further damage.
Don’t forget to get in touch for a quote and let us put you in touch with a fantastic professional handyman, painter, mover, or plumber.